Spinning-top.



. (No Model.)

G. F. AISHTUN.

SPINNING TOP.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1899.)

Patented .Iuly ll, I899.

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. AISHTON, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK.

SPINNING-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,644, dated July 11, 1899.

Application filed April 5, 1899. Serial No. 711,768. (No model.)

To all whom it 772/a/Z/ concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. AISHTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in the State of New York, have invented an Improved Spinning-Top, of whichthe following is a speci fication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I

My invention relates to an improved spinhing-top, which improvement is fully described and illustratedin the following specification and the accompanying drawings, the novel features thereof being specified in the claim annexed to the said specification.

In the accompanying drawings, representing my improved spinning-top, Figure 1 is an elevation. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are horizontal sections on the line or at, Fig. 2. j

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the body of the top; B, the handpiece; 0, the stem, and D the cap at the upper end of the stem. The bodyA is madeof suitable shape and dimensions, and it is provided at its lower end with a stud or point F, on which it revolves when spinning. The stem 0 is inserted firmly in the upper part of the body and extends up through the handpiece, being free to revolve therein, and is fastened in the cap, so that the body, stem, and cap all revolve together. The handpiece is provided with a recess E, which receives the cord H, which is fastened to and wound about the stem. The handpiece is somewhat shorter than the distance between the body and the cap, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that it may adjust itself up or down to accommodate itself to the position of the cord, which may be wound up on the stem in either direction. The cap D may be provided with a point I, so that the top may be spun either end up. The cord H may be fastened to the stem in any suitable way, and its outer end is doubled up and secured to form a loop J, which is less flexible than the cord itself.

In the operation of my improved top, the cord being wound up on the stern in either direction, the cord is drawn out quickly so as to cause the bodyto revolve, and then the motion of the stem will wind up the cord in the opposite direction, leaving the loop projecting from the recess ready for the next spin, so that it is rarely or never necessary to turn the stem to wind up the cord. My improved top is thus practically self-winding and can be spun an indefinite number of times without requiring that the cord be rewound by hand, the only difference being that it spins in the opposite direction each successive time. The handpiece being held in one hand, the cord is drawn out quickly by the other and the cord released when it is all drawn out, so that the stem will wind it up again, after which the grasp on the handpiece is removed, leaving the top to spin on any suitable surface as long as it retains sufficient momentum, the handpiece revolving with the body. As indicated in Fig. 5, when the cord is drawn out the stem will rotate in the direction of the arrow, and when it has all been drawn out and its end released the stem, continuing to revolve, will draw the string in and wind it up, as represented in Fig. 3, until the loop is reached, when its greater stiffness will arrest the winding, the handpiece being now free to revolve, and the looped end will project outward from the recess, as shown in Fig. 4:, in position where its end may be conveniently grasped for a repetition of the spinning operation. When the loop is drawn in so that it reaches the stem, the resistance increases, so that the handpiece is carried around with the stem, and when the top has ceased spinning the loop will be found with its end projecting from the recess ready for another spin.

I claim-- A spinning-top comprising a body, a cap, both body and cap being provided with a spinning-point,a shaft rigidly connecting the body and cap, a sleeve loose on said shaft intermediate the cap and body and adapted for limited vertical movement, said sleeve being provided with a recess, and a cord secured to the shaft within the recess of the sleeve, the outer end of the cord being stiffened, as and for the purposes stated.

GEORGE F. AISHTON.

Witnesses:

GEO. B. SELDEN, OJG. GEANNELL. 

